Collapsible stand



Dec. 8, 1959 c. N. CROSS ET AL 2,916,242

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I is Dec. 8, 1959 c. N. cRoss EI'AL 2,916,242

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United States Patent Ofiice 2,916,242 Patented Dec. 8, 1959 COLLAPSIBLE STAND Carroll N. Cross, Maitland, Fla., and Cyril D. Hayhow, Taunton, Mass; said Hayhow assignor to Ad-A-Day Company, Inc, Taunton, Mass a corporation 'of Massachusetts Application September 25, 1958, Serial No. 763,350

6 Claims. (Cl. 248-498) This invention relates to a collapsible stand which embodies in its construction a diptych, that is two panels or leaves hingedly connected, which panels may be disposed at an angle to stand in the manner of a gabled roof on a supporting surface with bearings parallel to the hinge line. The structure may be closed for shipment or storage or, as an alternative position of use, into a substantially two-dimensional form of large area but small thickness. Means are provided for supporting the two panels in a relatively angular position from which they will not accidentally be released and which preferably does not require manipulation in shifting from the closed or collapsed position to the erected position other than the mere change of the angular relationship of the two panels.

In the present instance the two panels are markedly different in size, so that the larger one may rest on a horizontal surface at a low angle to the horizontal, comparable to the slant of a slant-top desk, while the other, a shorter panel, constitutes a supporting leg for the first foldably associated therewith, a brace being provided carried by one of the panels and adjustably associated with the other to maintain the two in angular position. In the collapsed condition of the parts the two panels are brought into the same plane without requiring disengagement of the brace as a whole.

Our invention will be well understood by reference to the following description of the illustrative embodiment thereof, shown by way of example in the drawings which represent an article for use on the desk with the large, low-angled surface presented toward the occupant of the desk, while the smaller panel or supporting leg faces outwardly. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective of the device in its erected position;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device with all the relatively movable parts unfolded into a common plane;

Fig. 3 is a back view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the device in the collapsed position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the device in the erected position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a movable portion on the front opened out to permit unlocking of the brace; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 4, showing. a slightly different position of the parts.

The device shown as an example of the invention is constructed from boards and flexible sheet material. By board is meant material of some thickness and stiffness, such as cardboard and binders board, as contrasted with paper, cloth and similar more or less limp and thin materials which are termed sheet material.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is there shown a device embodying a front panel P which, in the erected position of use, stands at a low angle to the horizontal, and a rear panel R of the same width but lesser length, and providing a supporting leg so that the two panels may stand on the desk top in a manner of a gabled roof. They are maintained in this position by a brace B (Fig. 4) carried by the rear panel and adjustably associated with the front panel. The two panels may be unfolded from the position of Fig. 1 about the hinge between them and opened out fiat, preferably without bodily disengagement of the brace from the front panel, and erected again to the position of Figs. 1 and 4. The external face of the front panel may carry a pad P, such as a calendar pad, conveniently one having spaces for current notes for the particular dates shown, or a simple blank or partially blank memorandum pad, and the pad is preferably displaceably associated with the other parts as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The exposed face of the rear panel is here shown as carrying a name, either directly imprinted thereon or an attached nameplate, and which being presented toward one coming toward the desk from the front may serve as an identification of the occupant of the desk. Such a nameplate would not necessarily have to be limited in height to the height of the rear panel.

Referring now particularly to :Figs. 4 and 5, the rear panel R comprises an exterior board 16 and an interior board 18 of like size. The brace B includes a portion of the interior board 18 defined by cuts 20 part way across the depth of the board and an integral extension 22 of the area between them. The cuts 20' are joined by a weakened line 24 providing a hinge for the brace at an intermediate point of the depth of rear panel R.

The front panel F in the present instance comprises three boards, an interior board 28' which has a transverse slot 30 cut therethrough at a suitable position along its length, a board 32 exterior to board 28 and in face to face relation thereto and, in the present instance, an exterior board 34. The board 32 in this instance is thus an inter mediate board.

In manufacture, conveniently the three boards 28, 32

and 34 may be assembled in superposed position and the two boards 16 and 18' similarly assembled with their upper and outer' margins in alignment and disposed adjacent the other assembly so as to define a space between the two, except where the brace 20- extends from the board 18 which may bridge this space and may be extended through the slot 30 into the interfacial space between the boards 28- and 32. A binding 36 of flexible material may beadhesively secured over. the exposed faces of the board 34=andboard 16and its edges folded around the margins of the assembly where they are secured as seen in Fig. 3, the binding thus holding the several boards together andv forming aflexible hinge 38 across the space referred to. This covering is not only a convenient way of providing such a hinge and providing an attractive exten'or for the article, but'is apreferred way of securing together the several boardsof each panel in face to face relation, while leaving the portions of the areabetween the lateral edges disconnected, so that there is an unobstructed or open interfacial space between them, this being of particular importance in connection with the front panel F and the interfacial space between the interior and intermediate boards 28 and32. as will appear.

The. extension 22 of brace B is of such a length that when the two panels are in their collapsed position, being in the same plane as seen. in Fig. 4, the end of the extension will pass-the, distal margin of the slot 30- and project into the interfacial space between 28 and 32 distally of that slot to slide therein and, so far as the user is concerned, it need never be withdrawn. When the parts are brought to the erected position as shown in Fig. 2 the end of the extension slides further along in this space. To hold the article erected in the, position of Figs. 1' and 4 and prevent its collapse into the flat form, the extension 22.may carry a tab 40 (see Fig. 3) here formed bya three-sided cut, the free. end of the tab facing rearwardly toward the hinge 38. When the parts are erected by folding rear panel R clockwise from the position of Fig. 4 the extension slides deeper into the interfacial space at the side of the slot more remote from hinge 38 and when the tab comes over the slot it will snap into the same bringing its shoulder behind the wall of the slot nearer the hinge 38 to form a stop preventing reverse unfolding movement, the brace B then being under tension to maintain the erected position, Fig, 5.

The end of the tab 40 may either engage the margin of the slot as shown in Fig. 5 or may pass beyond the same into the interfacial space as shown in Fig. 7. A slight difference in the angle between the two panels in the erected position is involved.

The portion of the brace B which is housed in the interfacial space lies flat substantially in a plane between them. As the parts move from the position of Fig. 4 toward the position of Fig. 5 the unhoused portion moves to an angular position (although through a small angle) and tends to bend about the left-hand margin of the slot 30. When the root end of the tab 40 passes that margin the tab is free to follow in the plane and its free end drops into the slot. On slight retrograde movement or tension there is no tendency for it to follow the angularly disposed proximal portion of the brace and locking engagement ensues checking further withdrawal.

Optionally the end of the extension may be provided with weakened lines 42 defining distally thereof a crosshead 44 which may be bent at an angle to the body of the brace. The tab 40 however should be maintained substantially in the plane of this distal portion 44 of the brace to ensure its proper presentation relative to the margin of the slot as it approaches it, and therefore the three-sided cut forming the tab 40 is an integral extension of this cross-head portion, the cut ending at or extending past the hinge lines 42 and not being weakened along this line.

The extension 22 of brace B may, as described, be inserted through slot 30 by the manufacturer before the two panels are joined by the hinge 38, but might be inserted later. In this case the provision of the weakened lines 42 defining the hinged cross-head 44 is recommended as facilitating such insertion.

The user on receiving the article with the two panels disposed in the same plane (Fig. 4) will fold the rear panel B downwardly, causing the extension 20 to move further into the interstitial space beyond the position of Fig. 3 until the end of tab 40 reaches or passes the slot 30. When the article is set down or on an intentional retrograde movement of panel B the tab 40 will lock the parts in the position of Figs. 1 and 5.

To permit the user to collapse the structure to the planar form again the board 32 which directly overlies the slotted back board 28 and defines therewith the interfacial space in which the end of the brace moves, may be provided with a discontinuity accessible from the exterior of the article as a whole to permit pressing on the tab 40 when it is disposed inposition over the slot 30 to release it from its locking engagement. Thus, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 5, a three-sided cut may be formed in the intermediate board 32 defining a tab 46 opposite the slot which may be pressed downwardly by the finger and move the shoulder of the locking tab 40 below the external face of the back board 28, freeing the back panel to be moved into the same plane as the front panel and permitting the brace to move to the position of Figs. 3 and 4.

In the preceding paragraph it has been stated that the cab 46 is accessible from the exterior of the article as a whole. As so far described the intermediate board 32 is overlaid by the front board 34, secured thereto around their sides and lower margins. Herein a portion of this front board is shiftable and herein a three-sided cut 48 is made through the front board 34 and its covering, the cut extending from the position above the tab 44 and having 4 its legs terminating at the lower margin of the panel. A portion 34a of the front board is thus separated, but retained in position by the binding 36 at the lower edge of the front panel F which forms a hinge which permits this portion 34a of the board carrying the pad P to be swung outwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 5, thus exposing the tab 46 for manipulation. The surfaces of the intermediate board and of the front board thus exposed are of such character, because of their inherent finish, or because covered by paper, as to provide an inscribable surface. Thus a telephone index or other memoranda of a reference nature, not required or desired to be exposed at all times, may be inscribed on these surfaces and is readily accessible by swinging the portions 34a of the front board with its attached pad P over to the position of Fig. 5. In this position it will rest flat on the desk.

A portion of the front board 34 at the division line of portion 34a may be cut away to form a finger receiving space 50 to facilitate lifting of that portion. A title may be exposed in this space as indicated.

We are aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and we therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several matters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exemplified by the particular embodiment described and which we desire to secure by Letters Patent.

We claim:

1. A collapsible stand comprising a main panel and hinged thereto a panel providing a relatively short supporting leg portion which when turned at an angle to the main panel will support the latter inclined at a low angle to the horizontal, the stand being collapsible to dispose the main panel and said leg portion in a common plane, the main panel comprising an interior board having a transverse slot and a second board exterior thereto defining therewith an open interfacial space to which the slot opens, a brace extending from the leg portion passing through said slot to be slidably received in said space at the further side of the slot and a tab at an intermediate point of the length of the brace the end of which tab faces rearwardly and cooperates with the margin of the slot nearer the hinge line to form a stop when the stand is erected.

2. A stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second board has a discontinuity opposite the slot and accessible from the front of the main panel to permit pressing on the tab when moved into position over the slot to release it from the slot.

3. A stand as set forth in claim 2 wherein the discontinuity is provided by a yieldable tab, not wider than the tab in the brace, cut from the board.

4. A stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein the main panel carries on its front a pad, displaceable to expose the subjacent face of said second board which presents an inscribable surface for reference memoranda.

5. A collapsible stand comprising a main panel and hinged thereto a panel providing a relatively short supporting leg portion which when turned at an angle to the main panel will support the latter inclined at a low angle to the horizontal, the stand being collapsible to dispose the main panel and said leg portion in a common plane, the main panel comprising three superposed boards, a covering of flexible material over the outer surface of the panel and extending around the free end and side edges of the boards to secure them together in face to face relation, the interior board having a transverse slot, the next adjacent board defining with the interior board by virtue of the connection of their edges by the flexible material an open interfacial space to which the slot opens, a brace extending from the leg portion passing through said slot to be slidably received in said space at the further side of the slot, a tab at an intermediate point of the length of the brace the end of which tab faces rearwardly and cooperates with the margin of the slot nearer the hinge line to form a stop when the stand is erected, the outermost board and its facial covering being severed by cuts extending to the free end providing a portion which may be folded on the hinge provided by the flexible material on that edge down upon the surface on which the stand rests to expose the subjacent surface of the underlying board to provide an inscribable surface for reference memoranda.

6. A collapsible stand comprising two panels hinged together, one panel comprising superposed interior and exterior boards secured together adjacent their sides to define in the central area thereof an open interfacial space, the interior board having a slot opening from the space, the other panel having a brace extending therefrom at an intermediate point, the brace extending, when the panels are disposed in a common plane, across the hinge line between them and through the slot into the interfacial space and penetrating further into said space when the panels are bent together at an angle, and releasable means for checking withdrawal of the brace to the first position whereby the panels are secured together for standing in the manner of a gabled roof on their ends remote from the hinge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 937,671 Borgzinner Oct. 19, 1909 2,472,405 Cross June 7, 1949 2,600,429 Ransenn June 17, 1952 2,654,554 Cross Oct. 6, 1953 2,726,835 Hummel Dec. 13, 1955 2,825,516 Cross Mar. 4, 1958 

